Category: biryani

One pot week night meal, ready in 30 mins that is sure to impress your guests, family and yourself!

If you were trapped on an island with only one dish to eat for the rest of your life, what would it be? For me, that’s easily Biryani. The aromatic basmati rice, mixed with all the earthy spices and cooked to perfection simply cannot be beat. Every region seems to have their own “biryani”, take for example Paella with the Spanish or Jollof Rice from the Nigerians. So it’s fair to say, rice mixed with spices and meats makes for one heck of a delicious meal.

*Key – rinse out the rice a few times and soak in water till ready to cook. This removes the extra starch from the rice and helps get the fluffy texture*

Instructions:

1) Add all ingredients under Marinade except half cilantro/mint and mix thoroughly, refrigerate for atleast 30 mins or more. The longer you refrigerate the more tender and flavorful your meat will turn out.

2) Turn your Instant Pot on to Saute function and add in oil and onions. You will fry these until they caramelize to a brown color. Watch closely, they do burn easily. This should take roughly 20 mins.

3) Remove half of your fried onions. While still on Saute add in the entirety of the marinated beef, the whole spices, along with 1 cup of water.

4) Set to Pressure cook on High for 12 mins

5) Manually release and add in soaked rice + remainder of the water + vegetables ( if using). Do not mix in the rice, flatten it out so it is immersed in the water.

6) Set to Pressure cook on High for 5 mins

7) Let release on it’s on own for about 10 mins. Add in remainder of fried onions and remainder of chopped cilantro/mint. Combine and add extra salt if necessary. Serve over freshly squeezed lemon juice

I first became obsessed with Chicken Biryani when I first visited Hyderabad in the summer of 2014.

The spices, the aroma, the flavors… were incomparable to anything I expected or tasted in the US. I vividly remember my first thoughts being – if I were to be trapped on a deserted island for the rest of my life, I might be okay if I had an endless supply of this delicious biryani.

After that out of the world experience, I did everything in my power to recreate the taste at home. After visiting endless biryani restaurants including: Paradise Biryani, Biryani Pot, Asiana’s, etc, and after countless trial and errors with various recipes; I believe I have mastered the art of biryani.